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Author Spotlight: Detection and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Published on: July 28, 2023
Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Treatment on Colorectal Cancer in a Large, Nationwide Cohort
Shailja C Shah1,2, M Constanza Camargo3, Mark Lamm1
1Division of Gastroenterology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA.
Purpose:
Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of infection-associated cancer worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the impact of H. pylori infection and treatment on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality.
Patients:
US Veterans who completed H. pylori testing between 1999 and 2018.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis among adults within the Veterans Health Administration who completed testing for H. pylori. The primary exposures were (1) H. pylori test result (positive/negative) and (2) H. pylori treatment (untreated/treated) among H. pylori-positive individuals. The primary outcomes were CRC incidence and mortality. Follow-up started at the first H. pylori testing and continued until the earliest of incident or fatal CRC, non-CRC death, or December 31, 2019.
Results:
Among 812,736 individuals tested for H. pylori, 205,178 (25.2%) tested positive. Being H. pylori-positive versus H. pylori-negative was associated with higher CRC incidence and mortality. H. pylori treatment versus no treatment was associated with lower CRC incidence and mortality (absolute risk reduction 0.23%-0.35%) through 15-year follow-up. Being H. pylori-positive versus H. pylori-negative was associated with an 18% (adjusted hazard ratio [adjusted HR], 1.18 [95% CI, 1.12 to 1.24]) and 12% (adjusted HR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.03 to 1.21]) higher incident and fatal CRC risk, respectively. Individuals with untreated versus treated H. pylori infection had 23% (adjusted HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.13 to 1.34]) and 40% (adjusted HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.24 to 1.58]) higher incident and fatal CRC risk, respectively. The results were more pronounced in the analysis restricted to individuals with nonserologic testing.
Conclusion:
H. pylori positivity may be associated with small but statistically significant higher CRC incidence and mortality; untreated individuals, especially those with confirmed active infection, appear to be most at risk.
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